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Kikwete to grace Arusha tourism meet in May
2008-03-05 09:12:26
By Judica Tarimo
President Jakaya Kikwete is set to grace an international tourism meeting expected to attract high-profile foreign personalities scheduled for Arusha in May, this year.
The forum, planned to take place at the Arusha International Conference Centre, paves way for extensive exposure of the country`s vast tourism potentials and attractions.
Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism permanent secretary Blandina Nyoni disclosed this in a statement issued yesterday in Dar es Salaam.
The meeting will take place under the umbrella of the Africa Travel Association (ATA), an international travel industry association which promotes tourism to the African continent and intra-Africa travel partnership, to which Tanzania is a member.
According to the permanent secretary, ATA's 33rd annual congress will be held from May 19 to 23, this year.
``We expect that about 500 delegates will attend the forthcoming congress, including tour operators, dignitaries, ministers and executives from Africa, Europe and North America,`` said Nyoni.
She said the meeting would provide a forum for African tourism stakeholders to meet and deliberate on issues concerning tourism development and best ways for promoting the sector.
``Participants to the congress are also expected to establish and strengthen existing contacts, plans and programmes aimed at boosting tourism amongst ATA members,`` the official added.
They would discuss effective strategies for the raising of public awareness around the world on Africa`s tourism potentials, opportunities and products.
Tanzania, as the host country, will benefit from high visibility of the congress, new visitors, trade in tourism products and services and generation of foreign exchange, according to Nyoni.
``We will benefit in terms of tourism management skills from the US, as our local operators will have an opportunity to interact with US-based tourism experts,`` said the PS.
The congress will help Tanzania to showcase its various handicafts and travel products through exhibitions which will be run concurrently with the meeting.
The government appealed to the country`s tourism stakeholders to actively participate in the forum so as to publicise Tanzania`s tourism products and services, arts, crafts and cultural values.
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